The UniSA Ultimate Club is an Ultimate Frisbee team founded in 2015. Ultimate Frisbee is a sport that takes on similarities to netball and gridiron but in a non-contact and self-refereed format. There are both indoor and outdoor versions that come together with the same basic components but offer separate, unique challenges.
How many current members?
We currently have 61 members joining us for our indoor and outdoor league this season.
What competitions has the club been involved in over the past 12 months?
We are currently active throughout the year with Autumn and Spring State leagues that rotate between a mixed and a single gender season. At the same time Northern Ultimate Social League (NUSL) is held at UniSA Mawson Lakes campus, which is the only indoor league in South Australia. NUSL is a great beginner league offering a balance of competition versus early development within the sport. Summertime also brings the beach Ultimate season, with the annual social beach league being perfect to beat the heat.
Our club also competes in other tournaments such as Uni Games Nationals, the SA Challenge and the Big Kev’s charity beach tournament. Many of our members also enjoy other fun ‘hat’ style tournaments, including the annual themed Farcical Foes tournament, as well as the legendary two-day Southern Hills Royal Mint tournament which also boast overnight camping between the competition days.
Outline some of your club or club member achievements?
UniSA are the reigning champions of Division 1 State League, taking out the title three times in a row. The Division 1 men’s team also took out the title of ‘Team of the Year’ at the UniSA Sports Awards in 2018. Also in 2018, UniSA Ultimate received the award for ‘Club of the Year’ at the same awards ceremony, as well as ex-President and current club Secretary Sean Davis taking home the ‘Administrator of the Year’ award. Jade Tremaine, one of our founding members, was recognised as ‘Volunteer of the Year’ at the 2016 UniSA Sports Awards. Many of our members have acquired their Blues, Half-Blues and Club Colours over the years.
On a member level we’ve had achievements at the Australian, state and local level for both men and women. We have had many members play for our elite South Australian teams, Outbreak (men’s), Zig Theory (women’s), Valkyrie (women’s) and Vanguard (mixed). The Vanguard team competed in the World Ultimate Club Championships (WUCC) in Cincinnati, Ohio in 2018. In 2018, the Under 22s South Australian Blue Tongues mixed team took home the first national gold medal for SA in the history of Ultimate. Nine members of the 16 person team were UniSA Ultimate members.
Sean Davis is potentially the most decorated person in SA Ultimate, let alone the UniSA club. Sean has represented Australia twice, in the Under 20s team 2014 and Under 24s team in 2018. In this campaign, he brought back a bronze medal. He was also a part of the 2018 Vanguard team that competed in the WUCC, and the Blue Tongues team that brought home a national gold that same year. He has played for the Adelaide Dragons in the streamed Australian Ultimate League (AUL) twice, and has represented Outbreak at multiple Division 1 Nationals. Fellow member Lachie Eichner is a rising star in Ultimate, having represented Australia in both the U20s Australian team and the Trans-Tasman Championships within 18 months of starting the sport. He was also on the gold-medal winning Blue Tongues team.
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How has your club adapted to being online in terms of engaging with your members?
Since restrictions have been put in place we’ve been able to adapt by moving to the online space. We have increased our activity on social media, posting player stories and creating challenges and idea sharing via Facebook and Instagram. We have also made use of our Discord server, and have run a ‘disc decorating’ party, as well as online catch ups and video chats to continue bringing members together whilst in isolation. Since the competitive season has restarted, we’ve been running weekly wrap up videos of our Division 1 and 2 State League teams, hosted by club President Emma.
What is your favourite part of being a UniSA Sport club member?
The awesome community that supports the club from behind the scene strives to make Ultimate a safe and social place for all members. Our vision is to ‘unite people to strive to new limits through Ultimate’. Our mission is to lead the charge to empower people, not players, so they may become the leaders of tomorrow. We exist as a community for all; breaking new ground through providing vibrant social experiences and catered development opportunities. We have something for everyone in the sport, whether you just want to throw for fun or if you want to represent Australia, there is a pathway for you in UniSA Ultimate.
How can people join your club?
We would love for you to come out and join us! The best ways to get updates and get involved is to join us on Facebook. You’ll find regular updates about upcoming trainings, social leagues, Come ‘N’ Trys and competitions running throughout the year. The best place to contact our friendly club volunteers is either on Facebook, or via email at inquiries@unisaultimate.com.
We would recommend heading along to NUSL (Northern Ultimate Social League) held at the UniSA Mawson Lakes campus’ indoor sports centre. NUSL is a beginner friendly indoor format of the sport. Here you can master the basics of frisbee in a controlled environment and with great, supportive company. We run free Come ‘N’ Try sessions before the regular season begins. Like the NUSL Facebook page to stay up to date with the latest updates from the league. We provide free outdoor training sessions in partnership with Adelaide University Ultimate on Tuesday nights at Adelaide Park 10 (off MacKinnon Parade, North Adelaide). These training sessions are suitable for beginner and experienced players alike.